JP2010069664A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device which is able to form delivery courses of cut paper and a continuous paper without increasing the installing space in the recording device capable of making a record in the cut paper and the continuous paper. <P>SOLUTION: With the recording device, the recording can be made in the cut paper 2 and the continuous paper 1, and the paper recorded is delivered through the delivery part 3. The recording device includes a change-over tray 4 installed in the delivery part so as to be movable between the first position forming the cut-paper delivery course and the second position forming the continuous-paper delivery course. The recording device includes a driving means 9 for actuating the movement of the change-over tray and a powertrain 8 for transmitting the drive of the driving means to the change-over tray. The change-over tray, the driving means and the powertrain are arranged so as to be overlapped in the projection plane. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that can record a cut sheet and a continuous sheet with a recording head and discharges the recorded sheet through a discharge unit.

  A recording apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a facsimile records an image on a recording material by a recording head based on image information. As the recording material, papers of various materials such as paper and plastic sheets are used. As the paper, there are continuous paper such as cut paper and roll paper cut to a certain size. Some recording apparatuses can record on both cut paper and continuous paper. In some recording apparatuses capable of recording both, a cut paper discharge path and a continuous paper discharge path are provided, and these are switched. Further, in a recording apparatus using continuous paper, a cutter unit for cutting the recorded paper is provided.

In Patent Document 1, a cylindrical switching valve having a first opening with a wide angle and a second opening with a narrow angle with respect to a paper entrance path is used. A configuration for switching between discharge destinations is disclosed. Patent Document 2 describes an apparatus that sorts recorded paper into cut paper and continuous paper by swinging a switching gate provided in a paper discharge section by a solenoid. In this apparatus, the discharge path is switched between a first transport path that goes downward and a second transport path that goes in the horizontal direction by a switching gate.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-077998 JP-A-06-114795

  However, in the configuration using the switching valve of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that an installation space for the switching valve is required inside the conveyance path, and the entire apparatus becomes large. In addition, since the large-sized paper such as continuous paper is discharged upward with respect to the switching valve, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure a continuous paper stacking place. Even if a continuous paper stacking place can be secured above the switching valve, there is a problem that the installation space of the entire apparatus is further increased. Further, in the configuration in which the switching gate is swung by the solenoid as in Patent Document 2 and the paper is sorted, a space for mounting the switching gate and the solenoid is required on the transport path, and there is a problem that the entire apparatus becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of forming cut paper discharge paths and continuous paper discharge paths in a recording apparatus capable of recording on cut paper and continuous paper without causing an increase in installation space. It is to be.

  The present invention is capable of recording on cut paper and continuous paper, and in a recording apparatus that discharges the recorded paper through a discharge unit, a first position for forming a cut paper discharge path and a continuous paper discharge path are formed. A switching tray provided in the discharge section movably between the two positions, driving means for driving movement of the switching tray, and transmission for transmitting the driving of the driving means to the switching tray And a switching tray, the driving means, and the transmission mechanism are arranged so as to overlap within a projection plane of the recording apparatus.

  According to the present invention, in a recording apparatus capable of recording on cut paper and continuous paper, a recording apparatus capable of forming a cut paper discharge path and a continuous paper discharge path without causing an increase in installation space is provided. Is done.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals denote the same or corresponding parts throughout the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a switching tray, a transmission mechanism, and a driving unit of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view when a cut sheet discharge path is formed. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view when a continuous paper discharge path is formed. The recording device 35 can perform recording on the cut sheet 2 that is cut vertically and horizontally and the continuous paper 1 that is long. The recording device 35 is fixed to the stand 7.

  The cut sheet 2 is loaded and held in the cassette 21, and the continuous sheet 1 is wound around the continuous sheet holding member 27 so as to be drawn out. When recording on the cut sheet 2, the sheet feeding roller 22 is rotated to feed the sheet to the conveying roller 23, and the conveying roller 23 is further rotated to convey to the recording start position on the platen 24. Above the platen 24, a recording head 25 mounted on a carriage 51 and capable of reciprocating movement is disposed. An image is formed on the cut paper 2 supported on the platen 24 by the recording head 25 based on the image information. In the present embodiment, an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from the recording head 25 is exemplified as the recording apparatus. The recorded cut sheet 2 is discharged through the discharge unit 3 by the discharge roller 26.

  The discharge unit 3 includes a switching tray that is movable between a first position (FIG. 3) that forms the discharge path of the cut paper 2 and a second position (FIG. 4) that forms the discharge path of the continuous paper 1. 4 is provided. The switching tray 4 is attached so as to rotate about a support shaft 29 provided in the recording apparatus. When recording on the cut sheet 2, the switching tray 4 is held at the first position moved downward as shown in FIG. 3, and the sheet after the image is recorded is discharged by the discharge roller 26, and is switched. It is guided and placed on the placing tray 5 arranged in a substantially horizontal direction via the upper surface of the tray 4.

  In the vicinity of the discharge unit 3, a driving unit 9 for driving the movement of the switching tray 4 and a transmission mechanism 8 for transmitting the driving of the driving unit 9 to the switching tray 4 are provided. The switching tray 4, the drive means 9, and the transmission mechanism 8 are arranged so as to overlap in the projection plane of the recording apparatus. The transmission mechanism 8 can be moved up and down by driving means 9 disposed below the transmission mechanism 8. The switching tray 4 is rotated about the support shaft 29 in conjunction with the vertical movement of the transmission mechanism 8, thereby forming a first position (lowering position) that forms a discharge path for the cut sheet 2 on its upper surface, The lower side of the continuous paper 1 is held so as to be switchable to a second position (upward position) that forms the discharge path of the continuous paper 1. The vertical movement of the switching tray 4 may be performed by either rotational movement or parallel movement, and may be performed by a combination of rotational movement and parallel movement, or by oblique movement.

  The continuous paper 1 is wound around a continuous paper holding member 27 and held therein. When recording on the continuous paper 1, the paper feed roller 28 is rotated to feed the paper to the transport roller 23, and the transport roller 23 is further rotated to transport to the recording start position on the platen 24. As in the case of cut paper, an image is formed on the continuous paper 1 on the platen 24 by the recording head 25 mounted on the carriage 51. The recorded continuous paper 1 is discharged by the paper discharge roller 26 through the discharge unit 3. When recording is performed on the continuous paper 1, the switching tray 4 is moved to the first position (upward position) shown in FIG. 4 in conjunction with the transmission mechanism 8 by the driving means 9.

  Further, a cutter unit 10 for cutting the continuous paper 1 is disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance of the paper discharge roller 26. The cutter unit 10 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction together with the transmission mechanism 8. When the paper is continuous paper, the cutter unit 10 moves to a cutting position in the transport path as the transmission mechanism 8 rises to the second position. The recorded continuous paper 1 is guided to the outside through the lower side of the switching tray 4 and is cut by the cutter unit 10 and dropped into the paper storage unit 6 after the recording is completed. Therefore, the drive means 9 and the transmission mechanism 8 disposed in the vicinity of the discharge unit 3 and the switching tray 4 that rotates around the support shaft 29 are arranged so as to overlap in the projection plane of the recording apparatus. Yes. The paper storage unit 6 is also arranged so as to overlap the projection plane of the recording apparatus.

  Next, the structure of the transmission mechanism 8 and the drive means 9 is demonstrated. The cutter unit 10 for cutting the paper is capable of reciprocating along a guide rail 11 extending in a direction intersecting the transport direction. The cutter unit 10 and the guide rail 11 are configured as a part of the transmission mechanism 8 and can be moved up and down together with the transmission mechanism 8. That is, the cutter unit 10 and the guide rail 11 are in a lower position that does not interfere with paper discharge when recording on the cut paper 2, and are raised to an upper position where the paper in the discharge path can be cut when recording on the continuous paper 1. To do. Further, the transmission mechanism 8 is provided with a contact surface 12 for supporting an end portion of the switching tray 4 on the upstream side of conveyance.

  The driving means 9 includes a lifting motor 13, a gear train 14, a first lifting cam 16, a second lifting cam 17, and a guide groove 15. When the lifting motor 13 is driven, the first lifting cam 16 and the second lifting cam 17 are rotated via the gear train 14. The cam surface 19 of the first elevating cam 16 is in contact with the cam receiving surface 18 of the transmission mechanism 8, and the cam surface 53 of the second elevating cam 17 is in contact with the cam receiving surface 55 of the switching tray 4. At least two of the first elevating cam 16 and the second elevating cam 17 are arranged at both ends of the transmission mechanism 8, and accordingly, the cam surfaces 19 and 53 and the cam receiving surfaces 18 and 55 are also transmitted to the transmission mechanism 8. It is arranged at both ends.

  The guide grooves 15 are formed at both ends of the driving means 9 so as to be parallel to the moving direction of the transmission mechanism 8. By engaging the guide shafts 20 at both ends of the transmission mechanism 8 with the guide grooves 15, the transmission mechanism 8 can be smoothly moved up and down. When the elevating motor 13 is driven with the above configuration, the first elevating cam 16 and the second elevating cam 17 are simultaneously rotated in conjunction with each other to move the transmission mechanism 8 in the vertical direction and the support shaft 29 of the switching tray 4. The movement in the vertical direction by the rotation around the center is simultaneously performed in conjunction with each other. For this reason, by controlling the phase of the first elevating cam 16, the position control of the switching tray 4 and the transmission mechanism 8 can be easily performed. When the recorded continuous paper 1 is cut by the cutter unit 10, the second elevating cam 17 is rotated to retract the switching tray 4 above the cutter unit 10. In the present embodiment, the first elevating cam 16 and the second elevating cam 17 arranged on both sides of the driving means 9 are driven by one motor 13, but this uses a plurality of motors. May be.

  The transmission mechanism 8 is arranged in the vicinity of the discharge tray 3 for discharging the sheet so as to overlap the switching tray 4, and the transmission mechanism 8 is moved in the vertical direction by the driving means 9. Then, by using the vertical movement of the transmission mechanism 8 to rotate the switching tray 4 about the support shaft 29, the sheet discharge path switching operation is performed. When recording on the cut sheet 2, the switching tray 4 is moved to a lower position substantially parallel to the loading tray 5, and when recording on the continuous sheet 1, the upper position that forms the discharge path on the lower side of the switching tray 4. Move to. The switching operation of the switching tray 4 accompanying the movement operation of the transmission mechanism 8 is executed according to a control program set in the recording device 35, as will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control means for the switching operation of the switching tray 4. The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a detection unit that determines whether the paper is cut paper or continuous paper, and is configured to control the position of the switching tray 4 based on the detection result. Information from a paper type detection unit 32, a paper size detection unit 33, operation buttons (not shown) provided on the display panel, and the like is input to the input port 31 of the control unit 30 of the recording apparatus. The paper type detection unit 32 determines whether the discharged paper is continuous paper or cut paper. The output port 34 is provided with a display unit of a selected paper storage unit (for example, the loading tray 5 or the stacker 6), a drive signal output unit for the lifting motor 13 of the driving unit 9, and the like.

  The transmission mechanism 8 is moved up and down by an elevating motor 13, and the position of the switching tray 4 is switched by rotating the switching tray 4 using the up and down movement of the transmission mechanism 8. When the switching tray 4 is in the lowered position (FIG. 3), the discharge path for the cut sheet 2 is formed, and when the switching tray 4 is in the upper position (FIG. 4), the discharge path for the continuous sheet 1 is formed. As information of the paper type detection unit 32 connected to the input port 31, operation information of the paper feed roll paper 22 of the cut paper 2 and the paper feed roller 28 of the continuous paper 1 can be used.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the switching operation of the switching tray 4. When the recording operation of the recording device 35 is started, it is first determined whether the paper is continuous paper 1 or cut paper 2 (step S1). In the case of the continuous paper 1, the driving mechanism 9 moves the transmission mechanism 8 upward (step S2). As a result, the switching tray 4 becomes the upper position (second position), and a discharge path for the continuous paper 1 is formed below the switching tray 4. At this time, the cutter unit 10 also moves to the upper position together with the transmission mechanism 8 and becomes a standby position in order to cut the paper. In this state, an image is recorded on the continuous paper 1, and when the recording is completed, the continuous paper 1 is cut by the cutter unit 10 (step S3). The sheet cut off by cutting is guided and stored in the stacker 6 via the switching tray 4 (step S4). On the other hand, the remaining continuous paper 1 is returned to the recording start position in preparation for the next recording.

  If the paper is cut paper 2, the driving mechanism 9 moves the transmission mechanism 8 downward (step S5). Thereby, the switching tray 4 and the cutter unit 10 are in the lower position (first position), and the discharge path for the cut sheet 2 is formed on the upper surface of the switching tray 4. In this state, an image is recorded on the cut sheet 2, and the cut sheet that has been recorded is guided along the upper surface of the switching tray 4 onto the loading tray 5. According to the present embodiment, in the arrangement in which the switching tray 4, the transmission mechanism 8, and the driving unit 9 are overlapped in the projection plane of the recording apparatus, by switching the discharge path as described above, the entire recording apparatus 35 can be changed. Installation space can be reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the serial type recording apparatus in which the recording head is mounted on the carriage has been described as an example. The present invention can be similarly applied to a line-type recording apparatus that forms an image for each line collectively only by paper feeding. Further, the material of the paper can be widely used as long as it is a sheet-like paper in addition to paper, plastic sheet, photographic paper, cloth, and the like.

1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a switching tray, a transmission mechanism, and a driving unit of the recording apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when the discharge path | route of cut paper is formed. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view when the continuous paper discharge path is formed. It is a block diagram of the control means of the switching operation | movement of a switching tray. It is a flowchart of the switching operation | movement of a switching tray.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Continuous paper 2 Cut paper 3 Discharge part 4 Switching tray 5 Loading tray 6 Stacker 8 Transmission mechanism 9 Drive means 10 Cutter unit 13 Lifting motor 23 Conveyance roller 25 Recording head 26 Paper discharge roller 30 Control part 32 Paper type detection means 35 Recording apparatus

Claims (4)

In a recording apparatus that can record on cut paper and continuous paper, and discharges the recorded paper through a discharge unit.
A switching tray provided in the discharge section so as to be movable between a first position for forming a cut paper discharge path and a second position for forming a continuous paper discharge path;
Driving means for driving the movement of the switching tray;
A transmission mechanism for transmitting the drive of the drive means to the switching tray;
With
A recording apparatus, wherein the switching tray, the driving means, and the transmission mechanism are arranged so as to overlap within a projection plane of the recording apparatus.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that determines whether the sheet is cut sheet or continuous sheet, and controls the position of the switching tray based on the detection result.   A cutter unit for cutting continuous paper is movably provided together with the transmission mechanism, and when the paper is continuous paper, the cutter unit is moved to a cutting position along with the movement of the transmission mechanism. Item 3. The recording apparatus according to Item 1 or 2.   The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording apparatus is an ink jet recording apparatus that performs recording by ejecting ink from a recording head based on image information.

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